UNOS awarded continuation of national transplant network contract

United Network for Organ Sharing (UNOS) has renewed its federal contract to operate the national Organ Procurement and Transplantation Network (OPTN). Among its key functions, the OPTN develops national organ allocation policy and develops and operates the data systems that match donors and transplant candidates. UNOS also collects and reports national transplant data, develops standards for transplant institutions and monitors them to promote quality and safety.

“UNOS has helped facilitate over half a million organ transplants since 1986,” said Brian Shepard, UNOS’ acting chief executive officer. “We’re glad to continue this life-saving work with our partners at HRSA and in the transplant community.”

UNOS manages the OPTN under contract with the Health Resources and Services Administration of the U.S. Department of Health and Human Services. The renewal marks the eighth contract term for operation of the OPTN since 1986, all of which have been awarded to UNOS.

The renewed contract contains a series of optional terms to extend through September 2018. Direct federal funding of the OPTN will increase over the term of the contract from approximately $2.5 million to $4.5 million per year. Additional funding comes from fees paid by member institutions when registering an individual transplant candidate with the OPTN. The total OPTN budget for fiscal year 2014 is $44 million.